Environment Friendly Products

AGC Glass Asia Pacific is committed to developing products with better lifetime environmental performance. Our R&D centres are continuously working to develop and innovate new solutions that are both environmentally friendly and able to comply with green building requirements. In contributing towards the sustainable transformation of the industry, AGC Glass Asia Pacific has a line-up of solutions to help in achieving optimum energy efficiency and enhancing the health and well-being of occupants for various building types.

Information Center, Vietnam, Stopsol Supersilver Dark Blue

1. Energy-Saving Glass

1.1. Improving Energy Efficiency with Glass

Solar control and low-e coatings

Energy consumption is fast becoming one of the key concerns of our generation. Governments globally are refocusing their energy policies to increase efficiency by implementing and enforcing new efficiency standards to reach their Net-Zero energy target by 2050. As such, creating higher performance glass that will increase energy efficiency is a priority for glassmakers. AGC Glass Asia Pacific and its R&D centres have been working relentlessly to improve the properties of the glass by developing coatings that when applied will help increase the building's overall energy efficiency.

For the residential segment:

Solar control and low-e coatings are often used in homes to meet energy-saving needs. AGC's solar control and low-e coated glass are unified under the Sunergy, Stopsol, T-Sunlux, iplus, Planibel, and Stopray brand names. The coatings are designed and developed to minimise temperature fluctuations in the living space, commonly caused by heat transfer through the normal clear glass windows. The glass product used differs depending on the climate as different properties are required to manage the temperature changes. Typically in tropical climates, both good shading efficiency and low-e coatings are required to reduce the heat penetration from the outside into homes, whereas for the colder climates, low-e coatings coupled with double glazing are required to prevent cold air from entering the living space. With the appropriate solution applied, less energy is consumed by the air-conditioning or heating systems to maintain the ideal internal temperatures of the households, increasing energy efficiency and thus reducing CO₂ emissions.

Ara Greens Residence, Malaysia, Sunergy Clear

For the commercial segment:

The usage of solar control and low-e coatings in commercial building facades has become more prevalent with adoption picking up globally. Commercial buildings being a hub of activity usually consume more energy regulating the internal temperatures to create a comfortable working environment. The coated glass installed on building facades help reduce the energy consumption by increasing the envelope’s thermal efficiency. AGC's line-up of Stopray high-performance solar control low-e coatings are specially designed and developed to provide maximum energy savings and respond to the ever-changing stringent energy requirements.

Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand, Thailand, Stopray Smart 51

For the industrial segment:

Besides architectural glazing, low-e glass can also be applied to many other solutions such as common appliances found in our daily lifestyle. For example, the refrigeration appliances in grocery stores and supermarkets usually require optimal thermal regulation performance to preserve the freshness of perishable goods. These appliances operate round-the-clock and consume substantial amounts of electricity which can amount to 40% of the energy used. By using low-e glass, businesses can enjoy significant energy savings which will in turn lead to lower operating cost. AGC’s low-e coated glass offers both aesthetic and energy-efficient performance that is ideal for energy-efficient appliance's design.
 
With AGC’s solar control and low-e coated glass, our comprehensive range of solutions will support your energy reduction needs, making sustainable living an achievable reality at all levels.

2. Energy-generating glass

2.1. Creating Power through Renewable Energy

Towards net zero energy buildings

Businesses and industries are increasingly moving towards renewable energy to reduce emissions, lower energy costs, and improve eco-friendliness. Renewable energy is set to account for almost 95% of global electricity generation by 2026. Renewable energy only accounts for 13.7% of ASEAN's total energy supply in 2017 and has remained relatively stagnant. A rapid increase in adoption will be required to reach the regional ASEAN target of increasing renewable energy to 23% of its total energy supply by 2025. With a variety of renewable energy sources such as concentrating solar power, solar panels and wind turbines, key sectors such as the construction sector are urged to take action and implement policies that contribute to meet net zero energy targets.

Within the building industry, many are looking towards net-zero energy buildings (NZEB) with solar power technology as the key solution. With electricity generated by renewable energy sources such as Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV), buildings can also reduce direct carbon emissions.
 
Sources:
World Economic Forum, 2019, Can Southeast Asia keep up with growing energy demand?
International Energy Agency, 2021, Renewable electricity growth is accelerating faster than ever worldwide, supporting the emergence of the new global energy economy
International Energy Agency, 2021, Net Zero by 2050 A Roadmap for the Global Energy Sector
ASEAN Centre for Energy

2.2. Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV)

BIPV is a laminated safety glass that serves dual purpose as building envelopes while also incorporating either photovoltaic cells or ultra-thin film (opaque or semi-transparent). It makes up the outer layer of a building structure and generates electricity on-site using solar energy. As the photovoltaic cells are integrated with the glass, it negates the need to have separate conventional solar panels installed on the rooftop.
 
SunEwat is AGC’s glass-embedded photovoltaic solution, offering architects an efficient and aesthetically pleasing solution for energy-generating facades. It is recognised under multiple green certification schemes such as LEED and BREEAM Green Buildings Certifications and helps new buildings meet the requirements for the Green Mark Scheme. The SunEwat glass modules are produced to order and can be fully customised to meet project specifications. They can be combined with other glass products solutions such as double glazing, screen-printed glass and coloured glass. This allows for full functionality and flexibility such as transparent solutions for use in façade windows, and opaque solutions for non-vision areas such as spandrels and wall cladding. With its limitless possibilities, SunEwat is the perfect material to include in any low carbon building design.

JR Takanawa Gateway Station, Japan, SunEwat Vision Square

2.3. AGC Kashima Plant, AGC's own Net Zero Energy Building (ZEB)

In 2018, AGC successfully constructed the administrative office building in our Kashima Plant (located in Kamisu City, Ibaraki Prefecture) as a ZEB under Japanese standards. Covering a total floor area of 1,435 square metres, the front part of the two-storey building uses AGC glass materials that combine the use of high-heat insulating effects and photovoltaic modules to achieve not just energy savings, but also energy generation to achieve net-zero energy. The building's estimated energy-saving and energy-generating performances are:

50.4% reduction in energy consumption by energy-saving products relative to a reference building; and
64.3% generation of energy by energy-generating products equivalent to a reference building’s energy consumption.

In addition, the walls and other parts of the building utilise other AGC Group heat-shielding and insulating products to reduce energy consumption to increase energy-saving effects. This ZEB serves as a showcase for AGC’s environment-friendly products. The facility is expected to achieve a total energy reduction of 114.7%*.
 
*The amount of energy reduction as compared with the standard energy consumption (i.e. A total amount of energy consumption, including air-conditioning, ventilation, hot water supply, elevators, for each region, building/room-type as designated in the 2016 energy saving standard).

AGC Kashima Plant, Japan, SunEwat Vision Stripe

3. Environment-friendly materials

3.1. Reducing Pollutants and Improving Health

Enhancing indoor air quality

In these post Covid-19 pandemic times, many companies have adopted a hybrid working model including remote working. It is estimated that we continue to spend on average 90% of our time indoors. Indoor air quality has become increasingly important in both living and workspaces as exposure to poor indoor air quality may result in adverse health problems like irritations, headaches and respiratory diseases.
 
Volatile organic compounds (or ‘VOCs’) are carbon-based chemicals which can easily be vaporised into gases and released into the atmosphere. They can be emitted by various sources such as carpets, wallpaper, paints, furniture and cleaning products. When VOCs are released into the air, they react with nitrogen oxides and form ozone that can result in poor indoor air quality especially in high concentrations.

As glass manufacturers, we are committed to producing sustainable glass materials that emit safe levels of VOCs. We offer Mirox MNGE (Mirox New Generation Ecological) which not only emits low levels of VOCs, it also features a copper-free metal coating, very low-level lead paints, and a high resistance to corrosion. Whether you are a consumer or a designer working on an interior space project with sustainability targets, Mirox MNGE is definitely the safe and sustainable material of choice.
 

Sofitel Vienna Hotel, Austria, Mirox MNGE Clear

Sustainability